Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff

Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff You may have known us as DeGraff United Methodist. We have changed our name recently!

Willing to Seek HimThe story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most notorious accounts in King David's life (2 Samuel...
05/10/2026

Willing to Seek Him

The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most notorious accounts in King David's life (2 Samuel 11-12). After choosing to forgo battle with his troops and lounging about lazily in his palace, the king sees a beautiful woman bathing from his roof. What follows is adultery, conspiracy, and ultimately — murder.

When David is confronted by Nathan the Prophet, he admits his sin. It's in this darkness that he experiences anguish (Psalm 51).

Which then brings us to the joy of Psalm 32.

Here, David rejoices in the mercy the Lord has shown him. After describing the benefits of forgiveness and confession, the point of view takes a meaningful turn in verse 8 with Yahweh becoming the speaker. He says, "I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel."

The significance of that shift is no accident.

David put this story in motion by not seeking God's instruction, teaching or counsel. Instead, he listened to his own desires. He wanted to control his life, and in a sense, God let him. The results speak for themselves.

Now, after repentance and forgiveness, David's soul has regained fellowship with the Lord. And in verse 8, God is telling us a benefit of that fellowship: His loving guidance — not distant or generic, but tailored to every detail of who you are and where you've been.

When we're in right relation with God, He won't hide His way from us.

When we don’t know which way to go, He will instruct us.

When we don’t see how we can carry out what He’s called us to, He will teach us.

When we need someone in our corner, He will counsel us.

The question is whether we're willing to seek Him.

Peace in the Midst of HardshipNot long after Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples hid in a locked room, fearing that the s...
05/09/2026

Peace in the Midst of Hardship

Not long after Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples hid in a locked room, fearing that the same people who crucified Jesus would come and arrest them. It’s in the midst of their fearful circumstances that Jesus appears to them collectively, speaking words of peace over them.  

But He doesn’t stop there. 

He then tells His disciples that He is sending them out into the world. This means they are going to have to leave the safety of their locked room. But although their future is unknown, they are known by the One who holds the future. So wherever they go, and whatever they face, Jesus’ words will remain true: peace will be with them. 

And Jesus continues to offer us this same peace. 

We will all face hardship and difficulties. We all will go through seasons where we endure intense pain caused by struggling relationships, struggling economies, and struggling health crises.  

But God’s peace isn’t based on our feelings or circumstances, which is why it’s something we can consistently experience. 

God’s peace sometimes feels like a calmness in the midst of an anxious situation, or hope despite a discouraging diagnosis. It might look like unexplainable joy, or an unshakeable feeling that, regardless of what happens, God is still in control.

When our world rages, or the doctor shares something alarming, or the news reports are terrifying, God’s peace enables us to walk forward with confident assurance that the One who gives us peace goes with us. Jesus might not remove us from difficult situations, but He will always help us walk through them. 

Outside pressures don’t have the power to take away God’s perfect peace that’s given to us through Jesus our Savior. 

So take a few minutes today and thank Jesus for His peace that passes all understanding. Talk to Him about any concerns or worries you’re currently experiencing, and as you give them over to Him, envision Him saying to you, “peace be with you.”

The Call of Every ChristianIn the book of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul uses metaphors that were a part of their cultu...
05/08/2026

The Call of Every Christian

In the book of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul uses metaphors that were a part of their culture to communicate essential truths. Paul relates the work of evangelism to a farmer's work in the field:

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
1 Corinthians 3:7

Paul's message is clear: while every Christian is empowered with the task of evangelism, it is ultimately God—the Holy Spirit, who grows the seed of faith in an unbeliever's heart. This means others' response to the gospel is not on us as believers; our responsibility is to faithfully share the good news of eternal life.

But, if we're honest, many of us Christians keep our faith to ourselves. There are people who are ready and willing to hear and respond to the gospel message of Jesus Christ—the hope of eternal life. And God wants to use us. He wants to use you! 

Today, right where you are—in your job, in your neighborhood, in your family, and in your friend group—everywhere you walk with others, God wants to bring the good news of Jesus Christ.
And you're never alone in this call. God promises that His Spirit will be with you and will lead you, giving you the right words to say as you step out in faith (Matthew 28:20).

Consider what next step you can take to begin sharing Jesus with others. Prepare yourself to have conversations about Christ with your neighbors, coworkers, or friends. Ask God to give you courage, so that the good work He has started in you might also take root in others.

Calling Out for RescueDo you remember a moment—maybe dramatic, maybe quiet—when you realized you needed help? Not just a...
05/07/2026

Calling Out for Rescue

Do you remember a moment—maybe dramatic, maybe quiet—when you realized you needed help? Not just a little assistance, but rescue?

Romans 10:13 gives us this promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

These words were written by the apostle Paul to the people in Rome, explaining how anyone can begin a relationship with God. Just before this verse, Paul describes trusting in Jesus—believing in Him and calling out to Him. There are no prerequisites, no religious background, no good behavior, nothing else required. It is about turning to God and asking Him to save.

At its heart, this verse is about calling out for help—admitting a deep need, a need you cannot solve yourself. And it’s about trusting that God hears and responds.

This promise is for every person.

In God’s eyes, there are no insiders or outsiders, and no one is too far gone. There is a Rescuer available to all—and His name is Jesus.

Maybe you can look back and see a time in your life when you called out to God, and He answered. But so often, there is more to the story. God loves to use people to accomplish His will. Did someone share God’s hope with you, or encourage you? Did someone show you kindness or point the way forward?

There are so many who don’t yet know about this wonderful promise of God. They don’t know that there is a Rescuer, offering salvation and new life.

This message of hope is meant to be shared. You can be the one to share it. And it can be as simple as saying: There is someone who cares and is able to save you. This promise is real. And it is for you.

Who in your life might be one step away from calling out for help? Will you take a step of faith today and share the hope you’ve found in Jesus?

A Transformed PersonHave you ever felt like you needed to have a do-over? If so, you’re in good company. Peter knew this...
05/06/2026

A Transformed Person

Have you ever felt like you needed to have a do-over? If so, you’re in good company. Peter knew this feeling well. 

Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, invited by Jesus Himself to leave his life as a fisherman to join Him during His ministry on earth. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter followed Him to the sham trial. The people in the area were openly and aggressively hostile to Jesus. Imagine what that must have felt like—to be surrounded by people who may choose to treat Peter the way they were treating Jesus at that very moment.  

In Matthew 26 and Luke 22, we see that Peter chose to keep a low profile. He wanted to go unnoticed by the angry mob. That didn’t work for long though—three different people recognized him as a follower of Jesus and asked him about it. Each of the three times, Peter denied ever knowing Jesus.

If we skip ahead in Scripture, though, we find Peter doing the exact opposite. In Acts 2, Peter is standing in front of a big crowd, filled with people who may persecute him. Rather than denying knowing Jesus, he proclaims the secret to life: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and receive the Holy Spirit.

This is risky. What will people think? What if they turn on him the way that they did Jesus? Yet, he was bold anyway. He was a transformed person compared to who he had been earlier in the story. 

How did Peter transform? He was restored by Jesus. He also received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Two major things happened between these passages of scripture: Jesus visited Peter, and with grace, restored him. Secondly, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven for the followers of Jesus. With the Holy Spirit came power, empowering the believers to live bold, transformed lives (Acts 2).

Many of us face moments like this: moments where the right answer is boldness for Jesus, but the easy answer is to keep our heads down. What will people think? What will they do? 

Here’s some great news: we’re never alone. We don’t have to be bold on our own. The Holy Spirit is with us every day, giving us the power to be bold and transformed. We can walk out our newness each day w

Leave the Darkness BehindThink back to Genesis 1 when God created the world. One of the first things God said was, “Let ...
05/05/2026

Leave the Darkness Behind

Think back to Genesis 1 when God created the world. One of the first things God said was, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Just like God created light to shine upon the earth, Jesus came as a light to all mankind.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world..." He also points out that light is necessary for finding our way in this world.

Jesus is the light that guides men and women into true life. He's the light that illuminates our path, as well as the one who illuminates the rest of the world. It is by Jesus’ light that we can clearly discern what is right and good.

The picture of light in the darkness is significant. It means vision instead of blindness, confidence instead of confusion, hope instead of despair.

If you're feeling lost, disoriented, or stuck in the dark, start by saying His name: Jesus. Then, take a step—asking Him to light up the darkness. And as you continue to follow Him, one step at a time, He will show you the way.

Take a moment to thank God for shining His light in your life. Because of Jesus, you can leave the darkness behind and experience the light that leads to life.

The Urgent CallHave you ever shared the Good News of Jesus with someone in your life? When Jesus was teaching and traini...
05/04/2026

The Urgent Call

Have you ever shared the Good News of Jesus with someone in your life?

When Jesus was teaching and training the twelve disciples, he often used imagery and metaphors that were part of their culture to communicate important truths to them. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus relates the work that He is doing to a farmer’s work in the field.

Jesus says that the people who do not know Jesus are like a field of grain that's ready to be harvested. But, there are not enough workers to go and harvest among the fields. Jesus says to pray that God would send more workers to gather the harvest.

Essentially, there are people who are ready and willing to hear and respond to the Gospel message—the hope that Jesus brings for every person. But when Jesus says "the workers are few" (Matthew 9:38), what He really means is: there are not enough people sharing the Good News with others.

As Christians, we are entrusted with the free gift of eternal life, and we’re tasked with sharing that message with others. However, many Christians keep their faith to themselves.

We are to be bold in sharing the message of the cross with other people so that they can experience new life in Jesus, too.

Take a few minutes today to consider what small step you can take to begin sharing Jesus with other people. Pray for God to give you courage, and then step out and begin sharing with others.

Not AshamedDevotional from Beth LachmanWhat if no one had told you about Jesus?Most people would like to make a good imp...
05/03/2026

Not Ashamed

Devotional from Beth Lachman

What if no one had told you about Jesus?

Most people would like to make a good impact on this world. Some work towards leaving a long public legacy, while others focus on friends and family, with nothing really documenting how far their influence flows. If we follow one of God's greatest commandments: go and tell the world the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection (Matthew 28:19) we can have the greatest impact we could aim for in our lifetime. So why do we find it extremely hard to share the news that has been shared with us?

It's easy to donate to causes for people in need. Who would scoff at that impact? But sharing the good news of Jesus? That impact might bring division; someone close might reject His message... they might reject us. The apostle Paul lived a divisive life because he both rejected and accepted God's message. A self-proclaimed 'worst of sinners', he persecuted Christians before God revealed Himself, then lived a life of hardship afterward, spreading the Gospel throughout the hostile Roman Empire. But he wasn't ashamed of sharing God's good (but divisive) news because he knew it's impact would reach into eternity (Romans 1:16).

You can't choose who will accept or reject the Good News; we're just called to share it. What if someone had not shared Jesus with you?

God's story of redemption is for everyone, but not everyone has heard it.

Share Your Faith! How can you share the Gospel today? Whether it's face to face, over text, or through social media, be bold to share His message of hope!

A New HeartWhen someone needs a physical heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. Their heart is failing and, left on...
05/02/2026

A New Heart

When someone needs a physical heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. Their heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will physically die. 

But there is hope—the possibility of a new heart. However, in order to get a new heart, a good and capable surgeon is essential. More importantly, in order for that person to live, somebody else must die. The failing heart is then replaced with a thriving heart, and abundant life is once again possible.

In the same way, when someone needs a spiritual heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. The heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will spiritually die. 

But there is hope—the possibility of a new heart. However, in order to get a new heart though, a good and capable surgeon is essential. More importantly, in order for that person to live, somebody else must die. Only then can the failing heart be replaced with a thriving heart, and eternal life is possible. 

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

God is our good surgeon, and Jesus gave His life for yours. He takes your insufficient efforts and replaces them with something better. But to receive His abundant life, you must humbly ask for His help. You must allow Him to do surgery on your heart. You must surrender what is dying and trust Him with your life.  

Maybe the thing that needs to die is a habit that’s impacting your life. Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship, or guilt and regret over your past. Maybe it’s an attitude of pride or insecurity. 

Whatever it is, Jesus wants to take the broken and failing parts of your heart and replace them with something completely new and life-giving.

As you process today’s verse and what God is capable of doing, ask yourself:

Do I trust Him—really trust Him—with the details of my life? Am I willing to let Him do “surgery” on my heart and show me a better way to live?

Address

1839 County Road 24 S
De Graff, OH
43318

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 12pm
Tuesday 10am - 12pm
Wednesday 10am - 12pm
Thursday 10am - 12pm
Friday 7pm - 9pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+19375855511

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